Our trailblazer story
Cuyahoga Community College
Featuring President Michael Baston
Today’s students face many challenges beyond academic capacity that can lead to poor academic performance. Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) understands that, and uses levers within their discretion to ensure that students maintain access to their financial aid. Tri-C works with students by notifying them of their SAP status every term instead of annually, operating a fully-online SAP appeals process with a 7-10 day turnaround time between submission of the appeal and notice of approval/denial. As a result of having a holistic SAP appeals policy, Tri-C approves 80% of the SAP appeals they receive and ensures that more students can complete their education.
About Michael Baston
President, Cuyahoga Community College
Michael A. Baston, J.D., Ed.D., is the fifth president of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a national thought leader on the role of community colleges in shaping educational success; supporting regional workforce needs and economic growth; championing diversity, equity and inclusion reforms; and developing executive leadership teams.
As Tri-C president, Baston focuses on strengthening the College’s 60-year mission of providing high-quality, affordable and accessible education and services. Since becoming president in July 2022, he has promoted access and success for the 41,000 credit and noncredit students attending Tri-C’s four campuses and other locations throughout the Cleveland area.
